2026 Cook County Budget Meetings: State’s Attorney Office and Capital Budget

Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee Meeting
October 29, 2025

State’s Attorney Office – Eileen O’Neill Burke

Proposed 2026 Budget:  $259.3 Million    Proposed 2026 Positions:              1,519.8F FTEs
Actual 2025 Budget:        $221.3 Million    Actual 2025 Approved Positions:   1,452.0 FTEs
   Difference:                      +$  38.0 Million    Difference:                    +   67.8  FTEs
Note:  Requested $266.0 Million ($6.7 Million more than President recommended) and 1,647.8 positions (128 more than President recommended)

• State’s Attorney Burke provided a slide presentation which illustrated the growth (1) since 2018 compared to 2024 in hours of videos in criminal cases, that must be reviewed, (2) the workloads from 2023 through an estimate of 2026 in Victim Witness Domestic Violence workload and Victim Witness cases; and (3) the increasing workloads for investigations from 2024 to projected 2026.  All of this is in support of the increase in personnel and budget recommended by the President and the additional people and money requested by the State’s Attorney.
• The number one priority is for more Assistant State's Attorneys (ASAs).  But in addition, want more people for digital forensics, domestic violence victim witness specialists, and technology support so can obtain and use data to determine if on the right track or whether changes in policies and structure and training are needed.  Further, expect the need for more staffing and investments in technology and training in the next two years’ budgets.
• The State’s Attorney also presented information on the detention request rates of the prior State’s Attorney and current one (about the same for violent crime, and higher for aggravated domestic battery and machine gun cases) and the detention approval rates (higher for all 3 types of crime).  In response to a question from Comm. Lowry, the State’s Attorney said that an important change leading to the increase in judges approving detentions is that the office is doing more robust investigations, including that the ASAs now have access to civil orders of protection, prior to the First Appearance Court proceeding. 
• The State’s Attorney is restructuring the Special Victims Unit to encompass violent crimes beyond domestic violence as they are all are dealing with trauma.  Using a vertical prosecution model so that one ASA will be with the victim from the beginning throughout so that the victims do not have to repeatedly tell their stories and be retraumatized at each retelling.
• Several Commissioners asked about the role of the State’s Attorney with regard to federal immigration officers and protests.  The office is meeting once a week with all the other stakeholders, but the office and County have no standing to sue or take the officers to court as long as they are acting within the scope of their employment.  The State can and has sued and the office did provide an amicus brief as to why there will be irreparable harm if the National Guard or military is deployed.  One point made was that of the 100 largest cities in the U.S., Chicago is now #80 in terms of crime.  The office also filed an amicus brief in the Sanctuary City case.
• Comm. Vasquez and Trevor asked about what else can be done if someone sees federal officers violating the law.  The only immediate recourse is for people to contact the U.S. Attorney’s office as it is that office which would have jurisdiction.
• In response to a question from Comm. Stamps, the State’s Attorney said that she has been discussing ideas for restorative justice options with the incoming Chief Judge.  
• A great need of the office is for a case management system.  The office is now working with a consultant to identify the different needs in all the areas and they hope to have an RFP in the coming months, with the first phase of a new system ready to be implemented by the end of 2026.  In response to Comm. McCaskill, none of the current or future systems will be tied in with the Criminal Justice system being spearheaded by Tyler.  Getting a video management system will help shorten the time it takes to go to trial.
• The State’s Attorney also stated that there has been no reduction in the Conviction Integrity Unit.–Under her predecessor there were 3 ASAs assigned; now there are 4.  

Capital Budget – Tanya Anthony (CFO), Tom Lynch (CIO), Jenniefer Killen (Supt. of Transportation & Highways), and Jaimie Meyers (Interim Chief, Bureau of Asset Management
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                             Value of all Capital Projects    Not including operating funds
Proposed 2026 Budget:  $592.5 Million             $319.3 Million    
Actual 2025 Budget:        $666.3 Million             $355.6 Million    
  Difference:                       ($  73.8 Million)            ($   36.3 Million)
Note:  some project are financed through bonds and some projects, following the “pay as you go” concept, utilize operating funds when available rather than increasing the County’s debt load.

• The Capital Budget is for 3 types of projects:  (1) Capital Improvements to the County’s facilities ($260.1 M, 43.9%), (2) Transportation & Highways ($176.8 M, 29.8%), and (3) Capital Equipment, that includes technology ($155.6 M, 26.3%).  All proposals go through a review process and a determination is also made as how much money will be available.
• The Capital Improvements include work at Provident and Stroger Hospitals, redoing/re-stacking of departments in the County Building, and solar installations (including solar EV charging stations).  Since 2010, the County has reduced its greenhouse emissions by 52% and has realized an annual savings of $14.8 M.  The new Board room should be ready to turn over to the Secretary to the Board in February for testing of all the equipment and training of Commissioners and staff prior to its first use for meetings.
• Transportation & Highways will have both capitalized projects ot $176.8 M and non-capitalize projects of $257.9 M.  Most of the projects are financed by Motor Fuel Tax Funds from the State gasoline tax (63.4%).  Among the major projects is an update to the long range transportation plan.
• Capital equipment dollars will be used for IT hardware, IT implementation, IT systems and software, IT implementation,  fixed plant/institutional equipment, medical and laboratory equipment, vehicles, and furniture.

Observer:  Priscilla Mims